Month: June 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Today (June 30) marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. Thirty-three senior civil servants of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government who are participating in a national studies programme organised by the Civil Service College (CSC) and Peking University in Beijing attended a thematic seminar to gain an in-depth understanding of the constitutional responsibility of the HKSAR to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and that civil servants must fulfil their role as guardians of national security. The seminar was delivered by Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee and the Macao Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Deputy Director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr Zhang Yong. 

     The participants gained a lot from taking the opportunity to raise questions to Mr Zhang and attending the seminar which deepened their awareness of safeguarding national security proactively. 

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said the Government had been stepping up efforts on all fronts to cultivate a sense of national identity, awareness of national security and patriotism among civil servants at all levels. In particular, the national studies programmes for middle and senior-level civil servants enable civil servants to gain an accurate understanding of the constitutional order of the HKSAR, national security and the latest policy objectives of the country through lectures in Mainland institutions and site visits.

     Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the CSC has incorporated training on safeguarding national security into a series of programmes, including induction training for new recruits, Mainland programmes for middle and senior-level officers, thematic talks and e-learning. In addition to enhancing civil servants’ understanding of national security legal provisions, the CSC’s programmes also enable civil servants to understand the concept of a holistic approach to national security, to grasp the national security situation as well as the risks and challenges facing the country, and to raise civil servants’ awareness of safeguarding national security of their own accord and fulfilling their responsibility in national security.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

To promote low-carbon industrial transformation and corporate integrity governance simultaneously, the Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has held four “Green Energy Transparency, Integrity in Action” seminars across the Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung-Pingtung branches. The first session was held on May 22 at the Taichung Branch, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of SMEs in energy transformation. The seminar was hosted by Ji Shih-Tsung, Director of the Taichung Branch, and gathered representatives from government, industry, and academia to explore how to implement transparency and integrity in the process of green energy development and work together to establish a corporate model that combines integrity and sustainability.
In his opening remarks, Ji Shih-Tsung, director of the Taichung Branch, stated that promoting integrity and green energy development in tandem has been a key objective of the BIP. By integrating the forces of industry, government, and academia through the practical sharing platform, BIP could not only assist companies in strengthening their ESG concepts, but also guide the park towards a green development path with greater international competitiveness.
The Bureau of Industrial Parks pointed out that enterprises in the parks are increasingly focused on carbon fees, green electricity procurement, and carbon neutrality models. In response to this trend, the seminar spotlighted how SMEs can effectively implement low-carbon transformation while ensuring transparency and integrity in corporate governance. Through diverse case studies and expert insights, the event offered participants actionable strategies for achieving sustainable development.
The seminar invited many heavyweight speakers and benchmark companies in the green energy industry to participate in the event, including Transparency International Chinese Taipei (TICT), which has long been deeply involved in promoting corporate integrity, as well as Sunny Founder and TCC Green Energy Corporation, which have outstanding performance in the field of solar energy and renewable energy. These corporate representatives shared their achievements in green power trading, integrity governance, and corporate social responsibility practices, covering practical experience from development process transparency to supply chain ESG management. Through experience exchange, participants were able to gain a deeper understanding of how green power introduction and ethical management reinforce one another to create a win-win development model for businesses and society.
The topics discussed at the seminar also align closely with Taiwan’s recent sustainable policies. As global supply chains impose stricter requirements on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards, companies are placing greater emphasis on the integrity and transparency of their suppliers when making decisions on green electricity procurement and energy usage. The ability of green energy companies to disclose openly sustainability data has now become a crucial factor in corporate partnerships and procurement strategies.
In addition, TICT delivered an in-depth analysis of monitoring mechanisms in the green energy sector, helping attending companies better understand current regulations and potential risks while enhancing their institutional resilience. This cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing also contribute to the industry’s deeper grasp of sustainable governance practices.
Looking ahead, the Bureau of Industrial Parks stated that BIP would continue to uphold principles of integrity and efficiency, actively building cross-disciplinary exchange platforms. By doing so, it seeks to support enterprises in parks in meeting the challenges of international sustainability and equip them for a stable and successful transition.

Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw

Contact Person: Hsu, Chen-Hsiung (Government Ethics Office, BIP)
Contact Number: 886-7-3611212 ext. 631
Email: logan521018@bip.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Marine Department today announced a new requirement in applications for local certificates of competency (CoC), or their revalidation, whereby a medical fitness certificate issued by a recognised medical practitioner must be submitted.

 

To enhance marine safety, the department has revised the eligibility criteria for local CoCs. Introducing a medical fitness certificate requirement will ensure certificate holders are physically fit to operate vessels.

 

The new requirement involves two categories of people. Category I covers all applicants for initial issuance or revalidation of any grade of local CoC. Category II only covers coxswains and engine operators in charge of passenger vessels and “high-risk vessels” carrying substances such as gases, noxious liquid substances or oil.

 

All applicants for issuance or revalidation of local CoCs must submit a medical fitness certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner recognised by the department together with their application form.

 

Once issued, the local certificates will remain valid until the holder reaches the age of 65. Holders of local certificates who wish to revalidate their CoCs after reaching 65 will have to pass a medical assessment every three years.

 

After reaching the age of 71, a holder must pass a medical assessment every year to revalidate the CoC.

 

Considering the higher marine safety risks involved, all coxswains and engine operators of high-risk vessels need to undergo a medical assessment every five years to ensure they are physically fit to operate the relevant vessels.

 

Operators of high-risk vessels must submit a copy of their medical fitness certificate to the Marine Department for record after obtaining the certificate. This requirement will be implemented with the addition of a new licensing condition to the Operating Licences of high-risk vessels.

 

The department conducted extensive consultations with the industry regarding the new arrangements, and received support from stakeholders including the Legislative Council Economic Development Panel, the Local Vessels Advisory Committee, trade associations, trade unions and fishermen’s associations.

 

Click here for details concerning the latest requirements for local CoCs.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL).

 

In a statement, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said the HKNSL’s implementation over the past five years has shown the law to be a “guardian” in upholding the principle of “one country, two systems” and in safeguarding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

 

It added the HKNSL is an important and timely piece of legislation with profound historical significance.

 

The statement stressed that the HKNSL has enabled Hong Kong to make a major transition from chaos to order and has laid a solid legal foundation for safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

 

National security, it said, forms the basis for a country’s existence and development; however, after reunification, Hong Kong had long been “undefended” with regard to national security, with anti-China elements and external forces continuously challenging the principle of “one country, two systems”, and even attempting to seize the power of governance.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government iterated that unprecedented crises were brought to Hong Kong by the “anti-national education” incident in 2012; the illegal “Occupy Central” movement in 2014; and the Mongkok riot in 2016; as well as the “black-clad violence” and Hong Kong’s version of a “colour revolution”, which lasted for more than 10 months from June 2019, severely damaging Hong Kong’s societal, economic and business environment and causing the public to live in fear.

 

The central authorities acted decisively at a critical moment for Hong Kong, the statement added. The National People’s Congress (NPC) made a decision on May 28, 2020, on the basis of which the NPC Standing Committee enacted the HKNSL on June 30, 2020. The law was then listed under Annex III to the Basic Law for local promulgation and implementation in the Hong Kong SAR.

 

The statement outlined that the HKNSL addressed shortcomings and plugged loopholes in the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, playing the role of a stabilising force that immediately stopped violence and curbed disorder. It said the HKNSL’s implementation was a “watershed moment” in Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to order, as stability and safety in the city have been restored by the law.

 

It added that thanks to the concerted efforts of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Legislative Council and all sectors of the community, the Hong Kong SAR fulfilled its constitutional duty last year by completing the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), which took effect on March 23, 2024, improved the city’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security.

 

It said the HKNSL and the SNSO are compatible and complementary, building a strong line of defence to safeguard national security in Hong Kong.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised Hong Kong’s laws safeguarding national security firmly adhere to the principle of the rule of law, while protecting rights and freedoms in accordance with the law.

 

The business environment, it said, has continuously improved. Hong Kong is the world’s freest economy, ranks third among global financial centres, and recently returned to the global top three economies in the world in terms of competitiveness, demonstrating that it is advancing at full steam “from stability to prosperity”.

 

The statement continued that Hong Kong’s laws safeguarding national security also protect human rights, with respect and protections for human rights being embodied both in the provisions of the HKNSL and the SNSO and in their implementation.

 

Both HKNSL Article 4 and SNSO Section 2 stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected and that the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong shall be protected in accordance with the law. These include the rights to freedom of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government said that the laws’ various provisions are in line with international standards, striking a reasonable balance between safeguarding national security and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

 

It added that the Hong Kong SAR has a solid, resilient foundation of rule of law that is well-recognised by the international community, and that the city’s law enforcement agencies take actions based on evidence and in accordance with the law.

 

It also outlined that the Department of Justice, by virtue of Basic Law Article 63, controls criminal prosecutions, free from any interference, while independent prosecutorial decisions for each case are made in a rigorous and objective manner, based on evidence and applicable laws and in accordance with the Prosecution Code.

 

Articles 2, 19 and 85 of the Basic Law specifically provide that the Hong Kong SAR enjoys independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, and that the courts of the Hong Kong SAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference.

 

The statement stressed that cases will never be handled any differently owing to the occupation, political stance or background of the persons involved.

 

In addition, HKNSL Article 5 and SNSO Section 2 stipulate that the principles of the rule of law shall be adhered to in preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for offences endangering national security. These include the principles of conviction and punishment only by the application of the law, the presumption of innocence, the prohibition of double jeopardy, the right of accused persons to defend themselves, and other rights in judicial proceedings that criminal suspects, defendants and other parties in judicial proceedings are entitled to under the law.

 

The statement highlighted that governments have an inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and that this is established international practice.

 

It added that the HKNSL and the SNSO clearly define the elements of offences and related penalties, and precisely target an extremely small minority of people and organisations who commit acts that endanger national security, while protecting the lives and property of the general public. It stressed that law-abiding persons will not engage in acts that endanger national security and will not unwittingly violate the law, and therefore have no reason to be concerned.

 

Since the promulgation and implementation of the HKNSL, the statement highlighted, stability has been quickly restored in society. With the SNSO in effect, it said, the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong SAR residents and of other persons in Hong Kong are even better protected, while the economy of Hong Kong is picking up.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that safeguarding national security is an ongoing and endless commitment.

 

Citing the “White Paper on China’s National Security in the New Era”, published by the central authorities on May 12, it said external forces have been meddling more and more in China’s affairs, and have attempted to blockade, suppress and contain China through so-called “Hong Kong issues”.

 

As geopolitical risks continue to escalate, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it will strive steadfastly to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to improve its legal system and enforcement mechanisms under the robust protection of the HKNSL and the SNSO, so as to address evolving national security risks and challenges more effectively.

 

The Hong Kong SAR Government will also ramp up its efforts in publicity and education, so as to raise public awareness around safeguarding national security, thereby forming a societal shield to fend off external intervention. It said this will ensure high-quality development with high-level security, contributing to a new chapter in the practice of “one country, two systems”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
     
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (July 2) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Import and Export (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receive its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     Meanwhile, the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bill will be adjourned.
 
     On Members’ motions, Dr Wendy Hong will move a motion on establishing innovative institutional mechanisms to move full steam ahead with the development of the Core Area of the Northern Metropolis. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Louis Loong, Ms Chan Yuet-ming, Mr Michael Tien, Mr Lau Kwok-fan and Mr Gary Zhang will move separate amendments to Dr Hong’s motion.
 
     Ms Doreen Kong will move a motion on developing a personal data protection regime framework to address the challenges in the age of artificial intelligence. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Duncan Chiu, Mr Lam San-keung and Mr Lee Chun-keung will move separate amendments to Ms Kong’s motion.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and colleague were pleased to meet with Dr. Lin Yu-Ju from the Department of Family Medicine at Taichung Veterans General Hospital and Dr. Hsu Chia-Yun from the Department of Pediatrics at National Taiwan University Hospital, who are currently in Sydney for further training. They gained insights into the rigorous training process of Taiwan’s outstanding doctors and expressed deep admiration for the young physicians’ dedication to continuous learning and their pursuit of excellence in medical knowledge and skills.